Corn-sheller.



PATEN'TBD MAY z3, 1905.

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PATENTED MAYI'za, 1905.

4 G. r. CONNBR.

' CORN SHELLBR.

APPLICATION ITILED NOV. 27,1903.

y WZ #e552 l No. 790,289. vPA'IENTED MAY'ZB, 1905.

G. P. CONBR.

CORN SHELLBR.

APPLIOATION 2.1mm Nov. 27,1903.

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Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. OONNER, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

CORN-SHELLER.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,289, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed November 27, 1903. Serial No. 182,880.

To all whom it may] con/cern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. OoNNnR, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Port Huron, county of St. Clair, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oorn-Shellers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to corn-shelling machinery, and more especially to shelling-cylinders therefor and their coacting parts.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth. and more particularly pointed give clear view of portions of a corn-Sheller Fig. 2 1s a view i embodying the invention. of a' shelling-cylinder. Fig. 3 is a View in Fig. t is a view showing a form of grate-bar and deflector. Fig. 5 a is View indetail of the shipping-rod. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shelling-cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the main frame of a corn-Sheller of any preferred design. The shelling mechanism proper is supported in said frame in operative relation to the feeding device and cleaning-shoe,neither of which constitute per se a feature of this invention and are not shown, save in part, on the drawings. l

A shelling-cylinder B is suitably journaled at each end in bearings of the frame A and is rotated, preferably at the receiving end, by a gear-train or other like means operatively connecting it to a d rive-shaft or other suitable member of the shell'er. Said cylindei' B, which coacts with a surrounding grate D, comprises a central shaft b, on which blades b are secured or integrally formed, as preferred. These extend radially from the shaft and are straight for the major portion of their length.

Near the receiving end of 4the cylinder they are given a slight twist or have a slight pitch, so as to advance ears falling from the discharge of the feeding mechanism along the cylinder and the grate. Helically-disposed flanges b2 are symmetrically arranged on the shaft and connect or intersect the straight portions of the blade. The pitch of these flanges is preferably slight. The discharge end of the cylinders is provided with a disk b3, which keeps husks, silks, and the like from working into the cylinder-bearings.

A preferred form for the grate D, which coacts with the cylinder B, comprises longitudinally-disposed spaced bars d, proportioned to combine strength and lightness. The bars are supported near the grate ends by rings d', which are fixed in a suitable manner to the frame A and are apertured to receive the rods. The bars Z are placed between and abut against bulkheads or cross-partitions in the machineframe, which preventtlieir longitudinal movement, or any preferred and Vordinary retaining means may be used-as, for instance, checknuts on the rods, sliouldering either side of the rings d. The parts of the grate D are so disposed that they surround the cylinder except for a space above,y where the deck of the machine covers it. Other rings, (Z2, between the fixed end rings d', aid in maintaining the 'rods in proper position. In case it is desired to yhave these coact with the helical flanges of the cylinder in the capacity of deilectors the apertures through which the rods ofthe grate pass are enlarged to permit the angular'movement of the rings, and the rings are. so made as tov project for a slight distance within-the grate. Each are secured at one side by a hinge or lug (Z3.

adjustably secured, as by set-screws, on a shipping-rod G. The latter has sliding engagement with brackets or other like parts of the machine-frame A and may be longitudinally moved by means of a lever I-I, fulcrumed on the machine-frame and provided, if desired, with a detent or other suitable locking mechanism. This disposition of parts permits the simultaneous angular adjustment of the rings. In another and preferred form of construction deliecting-rings J are provided of proper diameter to stand wholly within the grate between tlie cylinder and bars, their inner mar- At the other side Y vthey each are engaged by a movable lug d4,

gins being separated by a proper interval 1 A from the periphery of the cylinder. These rings'are each secured at one side by a suitable finger j and interlock at an opposite point 100 With lugs and a shipping-rod device similar to the one already described. Greater ease of movement and facility of adjustment are afforded by the latter construction. rI`he gratebars, or at least those portions of them which lie below the cylinder, do not extend the full length of the flanges, and thereby permit the corncobs to fall as they reach the discharge end of the cylinder. To further aid in stripping or cleaning the cylinder, a check-plate K is secured near the discharge end of the grate. A preferable construction is that shown wherein the plate is in the form of an inverted U and is secured by suitable means, as a hinge L, over the cylinder, adjustment longitudinally of the gratebeing conveniently afforded by a bolt-and-slot connection between the hinge and the deck, although any preferred adjusting means may be used. To further aid the action of the vcheck-plate K, a housing M, in the form of a curved plate or the like, is placed around the cylinder at a proper interval therefrom.

One feature of the invention is the positive action of the helical flanges and deflectingrings on the corn ears, shreds, and stalks. If the mass of material tends to cling to the grate, the helical flanges on the cylinder move it along. In case the cylinder itself becomes clogged the angularly disposed bar rings have astripping action which effectively clears .the cylinder. By shifting the rings so as to give them different angles in relation to the helical flanges the machine is adapted without further trouble for use in any material which may be at hand, so that the device as shown works equally well with large cornears or small half-formed ones.

Another feature of the device is the ease With Which it handles both hushed and unhusked corn, the peculiar arrangement of the flanges and grate-bars and the adjustability of the rings acting as husking and shredding means which edeetively clear the ears and alloW them to be properly shelled.

From this arrangement of parts it will be seen that in case the material revolves with the cylinder the angularly-disposed deflectorrings tend to move it along. the cylinder toward the discharge end. In case the material clings to the grate-bars the helical flanges of the cylinder move it along the grate, so that in either case there is positive discharge without regard to the disposition of the material within the machine.

It will be understood that many changes in the form and arrangement of parts may be varied Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not limit myself to any particular form or arrangement except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my inventionl. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder, a grate, and angularly-adjustable deflectors on the grate coacting with the cylinder to move material along the grate.

2. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder, a fixed grate coacting with the cylinder comprising longitudinally-disposed, spaced bars and stay-rings adapted to maintain said bars in position, and angularlyadjustable deflecting-rings eoacting with the cylinder.

3. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder, a fixed grate coacting with the cylinder, adjustable d eflecting-rings on the grate and means adapted to simultaneously shift said rings.

4. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder, a bearing-shield therefor, a grate, and a check-plate between the grate and shield adapted to deflect the material to the cleaning mechanism.

5. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder comprising a shaft, longitudinal blades thereon whose corresponding end portions have a slight pitch, and helically-disposed flanges connecting the blades.

6. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder comprisinga shaft journaled in bearings at either end, longitudinally-disposed blades, each of which is given a slight pitch at the cylinder receiving end, helical flanges connecting the straight portions of the blades, and a shield-disk secured at the discharge end of the cylinder.

7. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder having longitudinal blades connected by helical flanges, a grate coaetiug with the cylinder, adjustably-secured deflector-rings on the grate, and means to vary the position of said rings relatively to the flanges.

8. In a corn-shelling machine, a rotatable shelling-cylinder provided with longitudinal blades having a slight pitch for a portion of their length, helical flanges connecting the blades, a grate, angularly-adjustable deflecting-rings, a bearing-disk at the discharge end of the cylinder, and a movable, adjustably-secured check-plate at the discharge end of the grate.

9. In a corn shelling machine, shelling means comprisingarotatablemember, a fixed member coacting therewith upon material introduced between them, and angularly-adjustable means movably secured between the fixed and rotatable member adapted to coact with the rotatable member to move material parallel to the axis of rotation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification, at Iort I'Iuron, Michigan, November 10, A. I). 1903, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. CONNER.

lVitnesses:

D. E. PURDY, C. R. STICKNEY.

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